The walking stick family in north america is made up of about 30 species.
Walking stick bug do they bite.
Since stick bugs eat only foliage they do not attack or bite people or other insects.
Identification there are many species of stick bugs all of which are in the insect order phasmida.
Though walking sticks are not known to bite some walking stick species for instance the american stick insect anisomorpha buprestoides found in the southeastern united states can spray a milky kind of acidic compound from glands on the back of its thorax.
Walking stick bugs facts identification control scientific name.
Stick insects are part of the order phasmatodea also known as phasmids and walking sticks and are most often found in subtropical tropical habitats when you can find them that is.
As their name suggests they look just like sticks and may even sway back and forth to more closely resemble a twig moving in the wind.
Stick insects do not bite.
They escape predation by blending into plant material.
The delicate insects must be handled carefully because their legs can easily break off.
Nearly all stick insect species are harmless and are not toxic.
If this camouflage fails for whatever reason some species of walking sticks have other means to protect themselves.
These amazing bugs are hard to spot because they look so much like twigs until those twigs get up and walk away that is.
As such they have teeth designed for this purpose only and when we say teeth we are talking microscopic.
It aims the spray with surprising accuracy unerringly hitting the face of a.
A few species however must be handled with care for the harm they can cause.
Eurycantha horrida expels a very foul smelling fluid.
Having said that stick insects are not defenceless and some are capable of pinching if they feel threatened.
They are herbivores and eat plants.
Walking sticks or stick insects are a group of highly camouflaged insects.
They can spray it accurately at predators at a range of up to two feet.
Walking stick bug body structure and coloration resemble real twigs or branches so strongly that often birds or other predators do not notice them at all.
Appearance identification.
Although walking stick insects do not have a venomous sting or bite some species can discharge a milky acidic spray from glands at the rear of the thorax.
Depending on the species walking sticks can grow from 1 to 12 inches 2 5 to.